While our beloved Habibi Bear puppies are super smart and intelligent, we need to always keep in mind and be aware of the fact that they are still babies. Our pups are babies who are super curious and explore their world with the only means at their disposal: their mouths. This means we need to be informed and aware of what new things they want to discover all year round, and especially during holidays when specialty items are brought into our homes.
As we head out of the winter season and into that of the Spring, let’s remember that when we celebrate, we need to be vigilant about what our puppies can get into. Christmas of course, is over, with holly, mistletoe, and chocolate topping the danger list, but what about Easter or Spring season?
As it turns out, many bulb and regular type flowers are extremely toxic to dogs, such as daffodils, tulips, lilies (all types: Easter, Tiger, Calla and Day) and carnations, chrysanthemum and daisies. If you are planting these outside, make sure they are in an area where puppy cannot dig up and hide for chewing later on. Also, for those of you who plan for Easter egg hunts, keep a good count and map of where you leave plastic treat-filled Easter eggs, so that none are left behind by accident or oversight for puppy to break and chew. Plastic eggs are not that sturdy, and the sharp plastic would cause an unwanted trip to the vet’s office unnecessarily. Also, beware of the chocolate foil-covered eggs, which puppy could ingest quickly without anyone noticing.
Some other items to watch out for:
- Pipe cleaning wires
- Cellophane
- Popped balloons
- Easter basket grass
If puppy ingests the string-like materials, they can easily cause intestinal or bowel obstructions that would require x-rays to diagnose and surgery to repair.
Signs of bowel obstructions in dogs are:
- Vomiting, repetitive retching (which may not be productive)
- Loss of appetite
- Weak or listlessness
- Bloating
- Hunching over and whining
- Abdominal tenderness and pain
By being aware of what our little Habibi Bear guy or gal is doing, where they are and what they can get into, we can avoid potential unfortunate incidents. If you are busy, make use of a doggie play pen or their very own doggie “condo” - their crate. Keep lots of safe chew toys on hand and rotate and switch them out so that your Habibi Bear pup is surprised by what you offer them to chew. And if you need help, reach out to us for more tips and suggestions. We are always here for you, cheering you on!